Air-moistening device.



G. B. OWEN, JR. AIR MOISTENING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 1914.

- Patented Mar.2,19 15.

GEORGE B. OWEN, Jlth, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

AIR-MOISTENING DEVICE.

manner.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

Application filed May 16, 1914.. Serial No. 839,069.

moistening device of simple constructionwhich is of particular utility and advantage when used for moistening cigars and tobaccos, inasmuch as it provides means for the slow and regular diffusion of moisture into the air surrounding the tobacco and may be readily adapted to a large variety of forms and conditions.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a liquid container embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the container shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the moisture-diffusing plug. Fig. 4: is a vertical sectional View through the container showing a modified form of the invention.

Tobacco moisteners, as previously constructed, have beenobjectionable because of the fact that they rapidly evaporate moisture until the source is exhausted, producing a too moist condition of the atmosphere;

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and thereafter are of no further use, making it necessary to give them attention at very short'intervals. My improved form of moistening device is designed to provide moisture difi'using means which will diffuse constantly, evenly and gradually, and which has the added advantage of providing meanswhereby the amount of diffusion may be regulated to suit varying conditions.

In the drawings, 1 designates a suitable liquid container which may be of any shape, size and non-porous material, and which may have therein a suitable outlet aperture which is closed or plugged by the diffusing one suitable material being terra cotta, and in the forms shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawlngs, is provided with an integral wick port on 4 of materially reduced diameter relative to the main body 3 and depending therefrom, this wick portion being of sufficient length to enable its lower end to be positioned adjacent the bottom of the contamer. tightly in the central aperture of the stopper 2 and may be moved upwardly and downwardly relatively to said stopper to expose The main body 3 of the plug fits more or less of the area of its upper end to the atmosphere. The lower portion 4, in the form ,shown in Figs. 13 of the drawings, is of the same material as the body portion 3 and acts as a wick to draw up the liquid 6 in the container by capillary attraction 'so that this liquid is drawn up through the wick portion 4 into the main body 3 of the plug from whose exposed upper end it is diffused into the atmosphere. In order to permit this capillary action, the container must be provided with an air vent, as will be obvious. One desirable way of providing such a vent is to provide the longitudinal face of the main plug 3 with a groove 5 extending from end to end thereof. This groove may be formed therein when the plug is molded or otherwise formed and would be of such depth as to prevent closure thereof by the compressed material of the stopper 2 against which the edge of the plugis forced.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings I have illustrated a modification wherein 1 designates the container, 2 the stopper member and 3 the moisture diffusing plug having a suitable air inlet groove 5 therein, as above described. Instead, however, of providing a wick portion formed of the same material and integral with the plug 3 the latter may be formed in its bottom face with one or more sockets 7 in which a suitable wick 8 may be secured, this Wick being of any suittainer. The length of the wicking would be.

such as to permit adjustment of the plug 3* "without withdrawing the bottom of the wicking material from the bottom of the container as in the first form of the invention described.

The porous stone material of the plug .provides a relatively minute cellular structure which gradually absorbs moisture without disintegration, and which gradually difalso be obvious that artificial mineral compounds other than terra cotta may be employed, although the latter is very desirable and gives ,very satisfactory results. The adjustment of the exposed end of the porous plug relatively to the stopper is particularly advantageous as it permits the area of the diffusing surface to be diminished or increased, according to the requirements of each particular case.

- What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An air moistener of the character described, comprising a liquid container having an outlet opening therein with a closure for said opening, including an outer body and a porous plug of mineral composition and relatively minute cellular structure extending through said body, and adjustable relatively thereto to vary the area of the moisture difiusing surface exposed to the atmosphere, said plug having awick portion extending Within the container to conduct liquid to its exposed surface.

2. An air moistenerof the character described, comprising a liquid container having an outlet opening therein, with a closure for said opening including an outer stopper body of compressible material, and a porous plug of mineral composition extending therethrough, said plug having a Wick portion Within the container arranged to conduct liquid to its exposed moisture dilfusing surface.

3. As an article of manufacture, a stopper comprising an outer portion of compressible material, having a porous plug of mineral composition extending therethrough, the inner end of said plug having a Wick portion.

4-. As an article of manufacture, a stopper comprising an outer portion of compressible material, having a porous plug of mineral composition extending therethrough, the inner end of said plug having a Wick portion and the sides of said plug having frictional engagement With said outer portion Where- 'by it may be adjusted relatively thereto to vary the area of moisture diffusing surface exposed to the atmosphere.

GEORGE B. OWEN, JR.

Witnesses:

HENDERSON F. HILL, R. C. MITCHELL. I 

